Making the most of Ytre Norskoya
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Ships moor or anchor here and, depending on conditions, passengers travel in Zodiacs to the shore(line).
Sightseeing
Svalbard is the Norwegian name for this archipelago, which includes Bear Island and Jan Mayen, although it is usually called Spitsbergen. Almost the size of the Republic of Ireland, Spitsbergen has 3,500 people across five settlements and remains a virtually unspoilt wilderness today.
Only 600 miles from the North Pole, this truly High Arctic archipelago has rugged mountains, broad tundra, ice caps and glaciers.
Its plentiful wildlife once drew great numbers of whalers and trappers. Today, discerning travellers are discovering vast Arctic seabird colonies and opportunities to observe and photograph Walrus, Reindeer, Arctic Fox and, of course, Polar Bear.
Ytre Norskøya lies at Spitsbergen's north-west corner. Willem Barents first sighted land here in June 1596 and named it "Spitsbergen" after the craggy, pointed peaks.
Food and shopping
Visitors are expected to remove their shoes before entering most buildings in Svalbard, including certain hotels and shops. In public buildings, a prominent shoe rack filled with dirty walking boots makes this custom clear.
Money
Norwegian krone (NOK) is the currency, including in the Russian settlements.
Staying connected
Norwegian is the official language, while Russian is used in Barentsburg. Almost everyone working in tourism speaks English.
Svalbard has a first-rate internet connection because NASA rents bulk capacity on undersea fibre optic cables that run along the seabed to mainland Norway for its Svalbard experiments.
Opening Hours and
The respective settlements observe Norwegian and Russian public holidays, while a few local festivals are also of interest:
- Late January brings Polar Jazz, a 4-5 day festival of jazz, blues and bluegrass.
- Around March 8th, Sunfest Week marks the end of the polar night.
- At the end of October, Blues Festival marks winter's approach in an appropriately blues-themed fashion.
- KunstPause Svalbard is an arts festival held around 14 November to coincide with the polar night's beginning.